Greece's player of the year made a statement to a police
prosecutor at the high court in Athens, claiming he was
threatened by Makis Psomiadis and his bodyguards outside his
house in the north of Athens on Tuesday night.

A club statement on Thursday confirmed a visit by an unnamed
club representative checking on a curfew but made no mention of
any bodyguards and denied any wrongdoing.

'The footballer did not answer telephone calls made at
around 2300 by a club representative during a curfew period on
January 14,' the statement said.

'As a result he was visited at his home by a club
representative to check that he was in compliance with the
curfew in accordance with club rules, an action that occurred
with all our players.

'Mr Nikolaidis responded in an aggravated fashion to the
club representative, who explained to him that as a professional
he was obliged to accept club curfews under the terms of his
contract.'

But Nikolaidis, 28, told reporters outside the court: 'He
(Psomiadis) is ruining my career and the career of all AEK's
players.

'The problem is not just that he came to my house and
threatened me, it's that Greek football tolerates Psomiadis and
his henchmen and their methods.'

Nikolaidis has also lodged an appeal with the League of
Professional Clubs (EPAE) to be released from his contract and be
paid nearly £65,000 in money owed to him.

NARROW MISS

AEK Athens face Spain's Malaga in the last 16 of the UEFA
Cup in February after narrowly missing out on the Champions
League second phase following draws in all six matches in a
strong first round group.

AEK veteran coach Dusan Bajevic told local media: 'I can't
tolerate the things that have happened. AEK is in the worst condition I have ever seen during the
time I have been associated with it.'

Greek Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, who has
responsibility for sporting affairs said on Thursday, he was
giving the case his personal attention.

'The prosecutor will proceed in this case according to the
letter of the law,' he said.

Psomiadis, a former newspaper owner and nightclub
impresario, still faces a 12-year prison sentence for a forgery
conviction after losing a six-year legal battle with a former
government minister over allegations of corruption.

The larger than life character, who took over at AEK two
years ago, served less than a week of his sentence last October
before being released on grounds of ill health after tests
showed he was suffering from tuberculosis.

Standing at nearly two metres tall, the AEK boss sports a
large bushy moustache. On match days he is always seen with a
giant cigar, typically washed down with a tumbler of whisky.

Psomiadis was criticised earlier this week by another AEK
player and Greece international Vassilis Tsartas who is out of
the team after making a legal claim over allegedly unpaid wages.

AEK are fifth in the Greek first division after a 6-0
thrashing of bottom club Panachaiki last Sunday.